Method and apparatus for banding tanks



Oct. 28, 1958 J. M. cRoM 2,858,084

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 18, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l BVM/Ml@ W oct. 28,1958 J. M. CRQM. 2,858,084

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

Y INVENToR JOHN M. cRoM BY A7141,

Oct. 28, 1958 J. M. cRoM 2,858,084

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. /254 JOHN M. cRoM United States Patent y Office A2,858,084 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS John M. Crum, Gainesville, Fla.

Application November 18, 1953, Serial No. 392,838

12 Claims. (Cl. 242-7) nisms that are not only expensive to produce and operate but are also attended with many diliculties. The primary object of my invention disclosed in this application is to produce improved and simplified method and mechanism for more eiciently performing this function whereby the entire procedure is simplified and results in substantially reduced costs.

The above described apparatus disclosed in the said patents is not only expensive to produce but the method employed requires the elevated supporting and operating of such mechanism on and adjacent to the outer face of the tank wall being banded and the power moving of theI mechanism around the wall by frictional traction contact with the wall, In contrast thereto, my improved method and apparatus herein disclosed employs relatively simple and standard known mechanisms, including power traction means in gravity frictional driving contact with the horizontal surface adjacent to the base of the wall, and thereby eliminates the objectionable requirements above enumerated and makes it possible thus to band the tanks with more efficient facility and at greatly reduced cost. The production of novel method and apparatus of this nature and for the purpose described comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a tank together wtih banding mechanism comprising the invention and illustrating its use in banding the tank wall,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a View like Fig. 1 but illustrating in side elevation a banding mechanism of modified construction,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation thereof, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a further modified construction,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through `the tank on t cumferentially around and into tensioned contact with the wall whereby placing the tank under predetermined compression.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein the cylindrical Wall 200 of the tank is illustrated as being banded by mechanism comprising the invention, 10 indicates a scaffold-like frame pivoted to the center of the tank at 42 and extending radially thereof nearly to the wall 200. The frame is of generally triangular shape embodying side members 18 and 19 connected by diagonal cross members 32 and vertical end members 20-21. T le bottom members 18 are supported in spaced relation from the tank bottom wall 14 on a block 41 at their inner ends and on wheels 44 at their outer ends. A vertical shaft 42 extending through the block and into the bottom wall 14 pivots the vehicle for movement thereabout on the wheels 44.

Vertical supports 30-31 are secured to the members 18 and 19 and horizontal supports 101-10.2 are secured to the members 20-21 and 30-31 in position extending over the top of the wall 200. A winch 208 is supported on cross members 209 and 210 on the supports 101--102 and carries a cable 207 supporting a sheave 206 in position adjacent to the outer face of the tank wall. The sheave serves to support and guide the reinforcing Wire into contact with the tank wall as the wire is trailed from the banding Vehicle into circumferential contact with the wall.

The horizontal support member 101 of the scaffold 10 and the sheave 206 are connected by cables 213 and 214 to a tractor 215 situated on the ground outside the wall 200. While the ground on which the tractor is in gravity frictional driving contact is herein described as horizontal, it will be understood that the term horizontal is used in a generic sense also to include sloping ground which may be inclined as much as 15 to 20 percent on excavated sites.

The tractor 215 carries a rotatably mounted roll 219 of banding wire 2l9a, and an extruding die 220 is connected to move with and preferably swivelly mounted on the tractor. The wire 219a from the roll 219 passes through the die 220 and the sheave 206, and is secured by suitable anchoring means in a fixed position in respect to the tank wall 200. It is to be understood that the word wire, as used herein, is employed. in its generic sense, and includes wire of filaments formed of iron or steel of any composition, nylon or other plastic or fibrous glass and the like, the latter materials having been found highly satisfactory for this purpose because of their relatively low cost and non-corrosive properties. The word wire is used to include rods. Also, it is to be understood that the wire supply and wire tensioning apparatus may be carried on a separate vehicle which is towed by the tractor, if desired.

As is apparent from the above description, when the tractor is driven about the tank wall 200, the scaffold 10 is rotated about the shaft 42. At the same time, tension is applied to the wire 2l9`a as it is extruded through the die 220. The sheave 206 serves to guide the wire 219au to the proper position about the wall 200. In this connection, a workman standing on the scaffold 10 may raise or lower the sheave 206, as the case may be, and thereby position, for example, each convolution of wire 219g in a spaced-apart relationship in respect toa succeeding convolution.

It is to be understood, of course, that the `winch mechanism 208 may be automatically operated, if desired, by any means apparentto one skilled in the art. Also it is to be understood that other types of wire tensioning means, well known to on'e skilled in the art, may be utilized in place of the die 220; for example, .a braking apparatus wherein severallturns of Wire are `'Wound about acapstan member which is braked to turn only when the wire is subjected to a given tension.

Figures 3 and 4 disclose a modification of the wire winding apparatus in which the wire source and the scaffold driving means are disposed within the area defined by the tank wall. As will be seen from the drawings, this modification utilizes the same basic scaffold structure as in the wire winding apparatus described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, in which the horizontal arms 101 and 102 of the scaffold 10 are bolted to the vertical members 20 and 21 and vertical supports I30 and 31, respectively, and extend over the upper edge 204 of the wall 200. A wire guide post 221 is secured at its upper end 221s to the left-hand horizontal arm 101 and extends downwardly nearly to the ground in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship with respect to the outer surface 20% of the tank wall 200. The guide post 221 is supported firmly in position' by a diagonally extending support member 222 which extends between the lower end 221]: of the guide post 221 and the opposite or right-hand horizontal arm 102. Braces 223 and 223g which connect the guide post 221 and scaffold arm 101 and also the guide post 221 and the diagonal support member 222 lend further rigidity to the guide post supporting structure.

As in the previously described modification, the winch `mechanism 208 is supported upon platform members 209 and 210 which extend between the horizontal arms 101 and 102. The wire 207 extending from the winch 208 supports the wire guiding lsheave 206 which is disposed adjacent the outer wall surface 20001.

A wire tensioning device, such as an extrusion' die 220e, is mounted on an inverted angle bracket 224 which in turn is secured by suitable means near the lower end 221b of the guide post 221.. Also, a horizontally disposed castor 225 is secured to the extreme lower end of `the guide post 221 and en'gages the adjacent lower p0rtion of the wall 200. The guide post 221 is thereby maintained at the desired distance from the wall 200 as the scaffold 10 is rotated.

A scaffold driving mechanism 226, is supported inside the tank wall upon thel horizontal scaffold members 18 and 19. The drive mechanism 226 includes a motor 61a, a. transmission and clutching means 62a, and a chain drive 63a connecting with the scaffold supporting drive wheel 54a. Thus, the scaffold 10 may be rotated about the inner surface 200]; of the tank wall 200, while at the `same time the wire guide post 221 moves about its outer surface 200e. In order to provide greater traction between the scaffold drive wheel 54a and the bottom 14 of the tank, sand bags 227 or other suitable ballast may be placed upon the scaffold 10 as n'early directly over `the wheel 54a as possible.

A roll of wire 228 is also rotatably mounted on the horizontal scaffold members 18 and 19 by means of a shaft 229. The wire 228a from the roll 228 is guided by rollers 230, 230a, 230b and 230e, or other suitable means, up over the wall 200 and then downwardly to the extrusion die 220a mounted on the guide post 221. The wire 228a then passes through the die 2201/1 and the guide sheave 206 and its free end is secured in a fixed position in respect to the wall 200.

From the foregoing description of the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that when the scaffold 10 is rotated about the shaft 42, the wire 228a is drawn from the roll 228, tensioned by the extrusion die 220a, and finally positioned upon the wall in the desired pattern by raising or lowering the guide sheave 206 by means of the winch 208. En this connection, it is to be understood that the winch mechanism 208 may be hand operated or it may be connected by means of a suitable drive mechanism, such as a gear chain drive, with the motor 61a. it will be appreciated that the important advantage of this form of the appli- ,cantts wire winding apparatus is that it may be used .to

wind tanks where there is not sufficient room to drive a tractor, or other propelling means, about the outside of the tank.

Figures 5 and 6 show another modification of my wire winding apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention. In this modification', a rectangular frame 231 has two pairs of vertical frame members 232 and 233, respectively, which straddle the upper portion of the wall 200. Shafts 234 and 2340i carrying wheels 235 and 236 are mounted between the vertical frame members 232 and 233 by means of bearing support members 237. The wheels 235 and 236 engage the upper wall surface 204 and serve to support the frame 231 thereon' as the latter is moved about the wall 200.

Horizontally disposed pairs of wheels 238 and 239 and 240 and 241, carried by stub shafts 242, are mounted by means of brackets 243 and adjustable brackets 244, respectively, to the ends of the vertical frame members 232 and 233. The lwheels 238 and 239 and 240 and 241i engage the inner and outer surfaces 200]) an'd 20M of the wall 200 and serve to support the frame 231 in a vertical plane and to maintain the wheels 230 and 231 in engagement with the upper wall surface 204. By means of the adjustable brackets 244, it is possible to adjust the position of the inn'er pair of horizontal wheels 238 and 239, in respect to the outer wheels 240 and 241. The wheels are thereby maintained in firm contact with the inner and outer wall surfaces 20017 and 201m.

It will be noted that the outwardly disposed pair of vertical frame members 232 and 233 is of greater length than the in'ner pair 232m As a result, the outwardly disposed pair of horizontal wheels 240 and 241 engage the outer wall surface 200er in a plane beneath the inner pair of wheels 238 and 239. The purpose of this arrangement is to firmly support the frame 231 against a lateral or pivoting movement induced by the component forces exerted on the frame by the towing cables 245 and 24561. In this connection, a cable 246 connecting the frame 231 to a post mounted at the center of the tank may be utilized as an extra precaution against any lateral movement of the frame 231.

As in the previously described wire winding apparatus, a hand-operated winch 250 for raising and lowering a sheave 251 is supported upon a horizontal platform 253 which is supported between the vertical pairs of frame members 232 and 233, respectively. Also, as previously described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, a tractor 254 carrying a supply of wire 255 and a wire tensioning means 256 is connected to the rectangular frame 231 and sheave 251 by cables 245 and 245aj. Thus, when the tractor 254 is driven about the tank wall 200, the rectangular frame 231 (and the sheave 251) is pulled along the upper edge 204 of the wall. In this connection, it will be noted that a horizontally disposed castor 257 is mounted on the inwardly facing side of the tractor 25.4. The castor 257 serves to prevent frictional contact between the wall 200 and the rear end of the tractor, which is likely to occur when the diameter of the tank is relatively small, due to the sideways pull exerted by the towing cables 245 and 245e.

Figure 7 discloses another modification of the wire winding device which is similar to that described in connection with Figures 5 and 6. As will be seen from the drawings, this modification is particularly adapted for winding wire about a tank wall 200 which is enclosed by a dome-shaped cover 258.

This modification of the wire winding apparatus comprises a triangular frame 259 formed by members 259a, 259] and 259e; The frame 259 is supported upon the the upper edge 204:1 of the tank wall 200 by means of two vertically disposed wheels 260 which correspond to wheels 235 and 236 shown in Figures 5 and 6. The wheels 260 are rotatably mounted by suitable means such as, for example, inverted U-shaped supports 261 and axles 261:1, the former being secured to the under side of the horizontally disposed frame members 259b. Horizontally disposed castors 262, which are supported beneath the horizontal frame members by support members262a and 262b, ride about the upper portion of the outer wall surface 200a.

Also, cable 263 secured to the uppermost portion of the frame 259 is pivotally connected to a shaft 263a mounted at the center of the dome tank cover 258. The cable 263 and the castors 262 prevent the frame 259 from tipping or otherwise departing from its circular course about the upper edge 204a of the wall 200 when moved by a suitable towing means, such as a tractor. With regard to its method of operation, this modiiication is similar to that described'in connection with the wire winding apparatus disclosed in Figures and 6.

lt is to be understood that in all modifications of the wire winding apparatus described in connection with Figures 1 to 7, the winch mechanism, and the wire guiding sheave which is raised and lowered thereby, may be operated at varying speeds in relation to the speed of rotation of the scaffold. Thus, for example, if the tank is wound from the bottom towards the top of its side wall, the wire guiding sheave may be raised at an increased rate of speed as the winding operation progresses. As a result, the spacing between the adjacent convolutions of wire will be greater near the top of the side wall than near its bo-ttom. Further, it is to be understood that the reinforcing wire may be wound about the tank wall in different patterns, for example, an elliptical pattern, and also proceeding convolutions of wire may be intentionally overlapped by succeeding convolutions of wire.

I claim:

1. A method of banding the upright and continuous wall of a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, which consists in supporting a wire guiding member at predetermined elevation adjacent to the outside face of the wall and for movement circumferentially thereabout, moving a vehicle around and adjacent to the tank wall by gravity frictional driving contact of power driven means with a substantially horizontal surface disposed laterally of and adjacent to the base of the wall, extending the free end portion of wire reinforcement from a supply source through a tensioning device connected to said vehicle and through said guiding member and anchoring said end portion thereof to the wall, trailing wire reinforcement from said supply source and the moving vehicle through said tensioning device and guiding member and into predetermined tensioned contact with the wall, and simultaneously therewith advancing the guiding member circumferentially at the wire trailing speed by connection of the guiding member to the vehicle.

2. The method defined in claim 1 in which the power driven vehicle is disposed forwardly of said guiding member outside the wall and in position to tow the guiding member rearwardly thereof.

3. Apparatus for banding the upright and continuous wall of a tank circumferentially with wire reinforcement, comprising wire tensioning and guiding means, means supporting the wire guiding means at predetermined elevation adjacent to the outside face of the wall and for movement circumferentially thereabout, a reel for carrying a supply of said wire, and power driven means supported in gravity frictional driving contact with a horizontal surface adjacent to the base of the wall and cooperating with the rst and second named means for trailing wire reinforcement from said reel through said tensioning and guiding means and into predetermined tensioned contact with the tank wall and simultaneously advancing the wire tensioning and guiding means therewith at wire trailing speed.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 in which the second named means includes a frame pivoted for rotary movement about a vertical axis disposed centrally of the tank wall and having a portion thereof disposed over the Wall and supporting said wire guiding means.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 in which said power driven means includes a traction wheel in driving engagement with the bottom wall of the tank inwardly of and adjacent to its cylindrical wall.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 plus means supporting said reel on the frame, a member supported on said frame portion disposed over the wall and depending therefrom downwardly along the outer face of the wall, and means carried by the frame and last named member for guiding the wire from the reel to said wire guiding member.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 plus an idler roll rotatable on a vertical axis on the bottom end of said last named member and in contact with the tank wall.

8. Apparatus for banding the upright and continuous wall of a tank circumferentially with continuous wire reinforcement, comprising a power driven vehicle in gravity frictional driving contact with the ground outwardly of and adjacent to the base of the wall, a wire guiding member, means supporting the member independently of the vehicle adjacent to the outside face of the wall and for movement circumferentially thereabout, and means powered by the vehicle for trailing wire reinforcement therefrom through the member and into predetermined tensioned contact with the tank wall and simultaneously advancing the member therewith at wire trailing speed.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 in which the first named means includes a frame pivoted for rotary movement about a Vertical axis disposed centrally of the tank wall and having a portion thereof disposed over the Wall and supporting the wire guiding member, and means for towing the frame from and rearwardly of the Vehicle about said axis.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 8 plus an idler roll rotatable on a vertical axis on the vehicle and disposed to engage the tank wall and keep the vehicle spaced therefrom. l

11. The apparatus defined in claim 8 in which the first named means includes a vehicle riding on the top surface of the wall and supporting the wire guiding member, and means for moving the second named vehicle from the first named vehicle.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 plus wheels riding on said top surface of the wall and supporting the second named vehicle for movement thereon, other wheels rotatable on vertical axes carried by and disposed downwardly from said second named vehicle in engagement with the inside and outside faces of the wall, the outside Wheels being disposed below the inside wheels, and means anchoring the second named vehicle for movement on the wall about an axis disposed centrally thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 966,801 Daisley Aug. 9, 1910 1,383,166 Steinkraus June 28, 1921 1,705,338 Playford Mar. 12, 1929 1,720,987 Adam July 16, 1929 1,844,497 Brassert et al. Feb. 9, 1932 2,041,337 Harrison May 19, 1936 2,251,912 Berry et al. Aug. 12, 1941 2,370,780 Crom Mar. 6, 1945 2,415,500 Kennison Feb. 11, 1947 2,520,402 Hirsh Aug. 29, 1950 2,520,403 Hirsh Aug. 29, 1950 2,641,846 Zeno June 16, 1953 2,663,515 Kinsinger Dec. 22, 1953 2,720,560 Funk Oct. 11, 1955 

